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The debates surrounding Corona are becoming increasingly poisoned in large parts of society.
Friendships break due to the disagreement about the proportionality of lockdown measures, families get into violent disputes.
Some people, it seems, think they have to choose - between “team freedom” and “team solidarity”.
And so Maybrit Illner asked on Thursday evening in her ZDF talk whether Corona is dividing the country.
One of the guests was actor Jan Josef Liefers (including “Tatort”).
The 56-year-old took part in the controversial campaign #allesdichtmachen with a video clip.
Dozens of actors criticized the German corona policy in an ironic-satirical way.
After that, a debate about freedom of expression broke out, and the discussion about crisis management is in many cases even sharper.
In the first ten minutes or so of the show, Illner interviewed Liefers alone - the other guests only have their say afterwards.
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The actor defends his video. “We can't let what we say and how we talk about it define by those with whom we don't want to have anything to do,” says the actor. The applause from “lateral thinkers” and the AfD was held up to him and his colleagues. Liefers believes that he should be able to say that two plus two is four - even if an AfD politician comes to the same conclusion. "I stand for an open society and for freedom of speech."
He does not think that the media are "aligned", emphasizes Liefers. However, he did perceive "a certain homogeneity" in reporting on the Corona crisis. His impression was that the focus was too much on this one topic. Many of the problems associated with the restrictions, such as violence in families living in precarious circumstances, were neglected.
Science journalist Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, who is sitting at the table, thinks the campaign is “very unfortunate”.
Above all, a “destructive discussion” was initiated by #dealing with everything.
Nguyen-Kim is annoyed that the action is still being talked about at all.
"We are currently rewarding those who scream the loudest in the media," she criticizes.
Unfortunately, the formula “outrage equals clicks equals revenue” applies in journalism.
And that ends up dividing society.
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FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki, connected to the studio, gives fire to the debate.
He does not presume to judge whether a discussion is destructive or constructive.
This distinction does not exist in the constitution either.
He appeals not to declare critics of corona measures to be people who want serious illnesses or deaths.
In the long run, the company will not be able to stand a lockdown, emphasizes Kubicki. He can understand that actors have just spoken - they have in many cases not only lost income, but above all their audience. And their videos and opinions have to be endured - that guarantees the freedom of art and expression anchored in the Basic Law anyway.
Peter Tschentscher (SPD), Hamburg's First Mayor, takes a step from two chairs next to Liefers towards the actor, but also criticizes the videos: The tornness of Liefers, he can understand how crumbly he is, said Tschentscher.
That's the way society as a whole goes.
Exactly for this reason the # all sealing action with its message, which is misunderstood for many people, was "a little bit unsuccessful".
"This heated, emotional mood that we all have now after a year of the corona pandemic, it was gasoline-laden air - and you're making a match," he criticizes.
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Liefers talks about conversations that he had seen more often in the past year.
People shared their opinion with him, but with the addition: “But you can't say that anymore.” The actor, who grew up in the GDR, says: “Of course you can say anything - but not with impunity.” He thinks it's terrible that there are actually people who feel that they can no longer say everything.
Palmer does not want to argue "quieter, quieter or with the scissors in mind"
Tübingen's Mayor Boris Palmer knows the situation in which Liefers is currently.
The controversial Green politician has been accused in various contexts of having received applause from the right.
He will not begin to argue because of this criticism "more quietly, more quietly or with the scissors in his head," emphasizes Palmer, who is involved.
He knows the mechanisms: “What we experience here are practiced rituals.
The outrage, the cancel culture. ”The fact that some actors deleted their videos is the“ classic reaction: You are put under pressure until you no longer stand by what you said ”.
That was often tried with him.
Journalist Nguyen-Kim shakes her head while Palmer does this.
But he continues undeterred.
People do not need "thought leaders who make it clear to them what the good side of power is".
Specifically in the pandemic, lockdown measures are not the only option in crisis management.
And anyone who criticizes these measures is not someone who approves of people being sent to intensive care units.
The local politician finds words of praise for the # all-sealing campaign: “That was not divisive,” he says.
Rather, conflict has an integrating effect in a democracy.
He thinks it's “great” what the artists “dared to do”;
That's why the Corona policy is being discussed differently today than it was a week ago.
"Thank you, Mr. Liefers, for this action," Palmer finally turns directly to the actor.